Incorrect Caste Census Will Affect the Share of OBCs and Deprived Sections: Randhawa

Chandigarh, August 25, 2026: Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that the caste census is not merely a question of numbers, but a question of rights and representation. If the enumeration of castes is not accurate, the actual share of OBCs, extremely backward communities and disadvantaged sections cannot be determined correctly. Therefore, accurate data is essential to ensuring social justice and fair participation for deprived sections.
Randhawa said that the concerns raised over the existing caste census process in the joint letter written by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi are completely justified. He said that Congress supports a caste census, but the process must be conducted in an accurate, transparent and authenticated manner so that every section receives rights and representation in proportion to its actual population.
He said that the use of open-ended questions to record caste details in the current process is a serious cause for concern. If the same caste is recorded under different names, local dialects or sub-castes, the data will become fragmented, and OBCs, extremely backward communities and disadvantaged sections will suffer the most as a result.
Randhawa said that Congress’s demand is very clear: the existing questionnaire should be withdrawn and a new questionnaire should be prepared on the basis of a verified caste list. At the same time, a broad consultation should be held with political parties, social experts, backward-class organisations and the general public to establish a process that commands the confidence of all stakeholders.
He said that the objective of a caste census is not merely to count people, but to create a reliable basis for the fair distribution of reservations, welfare schemes and resources in the future. Therefore, the Central Government should adopt a scientific, transparent and authenticated process instead of rushing through the exercise.
Randhawa urged the Central Government to seriously consider the suggestions put forward by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge and make the necessary improvements to the caste census process so that its true objective of achieving social justice can be fulfilled.